Wintry Weather Mix Expected to Disrupt Holiday Travel Plans

By CYNTHIA CUMMING

November 25, 2014 at 8:58 PM

By CYNTHIA CUMMING

November 25, 2014 at 8:58 PM

WEST ORANGE, NJ - Balmy seventy degree-plus temperatures are giving way to a wintry mix of rain and snow that is likely to disrupt holiday travel plans along the northeast corridor, including West Orange.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning on Nov. 25, after upgrading from a Winter Storm Watch earlier in the day. The forecast calls for sleet and rain on Nov. 26 that is expected to turn into snow in the afternoon as temperatures fall. Three to eight inches of snow accumulation is possible, with an additional one to three inches likely before the storm ends in the evening.

No snow is expected on Thanksgiving, with cloudy weather and termperatures around 40 degrees.

West Orange, Livingston and West Essex residents traveling for Thanksgiving will likely be impacted by the storm. AAA Travel projects that over one million New Jerseysans will travel 50 miles or more between Nov. 26 and Nov. 30; 1,036,829 (88.6% of all travelers), a 4.2% increase from one year ago; 101,126 (8.7% of all travelers), an increase of 3.2% from Thanksgiving 2013; and 31,105 (2.7% of all travelers), a 4.6% increase from last year.

A recent report by Weather.com listed Newark Liberty International Airport as fifth on a Top 15 List of Worst Airports for Weather Delays in the country. LaGuardia International Airport was No. 3 and John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport was No. 6.

Weather.com researched their Worst Weather-Delayed Airports list by examining weather-related arrival and flight-delay data over a 12-month period from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 23 percent of U.S. flights arrived at least 15 minutes late, were cancelled, or diverted – and about 31 percent of those were a direct result of weather disturbances.

If traveling, check for roadway closures and airport delays in advance. Make sure all vehicles are ready for travel in wintry weather: all weather tires, a full tank of gas, shovel, blankets, flashlight, chargers, water, snacks, and even a bag of cat litter for traction on ice.

LIVINGSTON, NJ — In the aftermath of Thursday night’s snowstorm, Livingston Interim Superintendent of Schools James O’Neill said that Thursday night was one of the most difficult he has had in more than 40 years of working in education. He provided the following statement about his experience:

“It was difficult because I always feel personally responsible for student safety and wellbeing. It ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Livingston schools have since been closed for Friday, Nov. 16.

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Some students were still being held at Livingston schools after 7 p.m. on Thursday after snow quickly accumulated during rush hour, according to Livingston police, who are still working vigorously to help drivers navigate the snow and get home safely.

“Everybody’s safe, it’s just a matter of ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Livingston schools have since been closed for Friday, Nov. 16.

WEST ORANGE , NJ — They raided the kitchen, turned the auditorium into a movie theater and played games in the gym—that’s how West Orange educators helped students stranded at the schools to weather the storm that paralyzed the region on Thursday night.

Photos from around the district showed smiling students with ice cream, grinning staffers who prepared food for the students and some kids ...

WEST ORANGE , NJ — They raided the kitchen, turned the auditorium into a movie theater and played ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ – With the annual Great American Smokeout coming up on Thursday, Nov. 15, the Livingston Health Department is encouraging residents to join in the country’s annual effort to quit smoking for 24 hours.

Despite a decrease in the number of people who currently smoke cigarettes, there are still about 40 million adults in the United States that smoke, accorging to the health ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ – With the annual Great American Smokeout coming up on Thursday, Nov. 15, the ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — For its annual fall production coming up later this week, Livingston High School (LHS) will present “Midsummer/Jersey,” which puts a Jersey Shore twist on William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Tickets can be purchased online HERE or at the door for the three performances, which will be held in the LHS auditorium on Nov. 15, 16 and 17 at 6:30 ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — For its annual fall production coming up later this week, Livingston High School ...

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Eighteen Livingston community members recently graduated from the Livingston Police Department’s first Citizens Police Academy—a free 10-week program designed to give participants an understanding of the inner workings of the police department and a working knowledge of what law enforcement entails.

HILLSIDE, NJ — Three levels of a local service organizations recently came together in an act of community service when the Livingston High School Key Club and the Heritage Middle School (HMS) Builders' Club took a joint field trip to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside along with members of their umbrella organization, the Livingston Kiwanis Club.

Although members of the Key ...

HILLSIDE, NJ — Three levels of a local service organizations recently came together in an act of ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ — More than $160,000 was raised at RWJBarnabas Health’s (RWJBH) second annual Running with the Devils 5K Run and Walk in support of RWJBH and the New Jersey Devils’ collective effort to build stronger communities by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and world-class healthcare.

Proceeds from the race, held at Essex County’s South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange, ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ — More than $160,000 was raised at RWJBarnabas Health’s (RWJBH) second annual ...

RIDGE, NJ — the Livingston High School Forensics Speech and Debate Team came away with nine awards, including the fourth place team sweepstakes trophy, from the second Newark CFL tournament for the season at Ridge High School on Saturday.

The following students won awards:

Jaina Jallow, First Place in Varsity Declamation

Bela Battu, First Place in JV Oral Interpretation

Neel Sahni and ...

RIDGE, NJ — the Livingston High School Forensics Speech and Debate Team came away with nine awards, ...